2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, which had remained largely unchanged over the years. Key features included circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks with options like painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, but it always maintained its unmistakable identity. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort; it had an upright seating position, limited legroom, and seats adjusted with somewhat awkward ripcords. However, for the right type of driver, these quirks added to its charm.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander, on the other hand, stood out in the crowded midsize SUV market with its distinctive styling. It featured wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The side profile had a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and the taillights looked like they came off a Lexus model. The Highlander managed to look longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size. The new XSE trim level added a more aggressive front end and suspension tuning, but the Highlander truly shined in its Limited trim, which offered a near-luxury interior with tan leather seats, dark brown trim, and wood details.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options included a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid variant, the 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Rubicon 392 also had beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Highlander Hybrid was also available, but it was covered in a separate review. The Highlander's powertrain was smooth and predictable, making it a reliable choice for family transportation. While it wasn't designed for drag races, it provided adequate power for highway merging and overtaking. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, offering a bit more driving excitement.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets. It also had drain plugs for easy cleaning. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and comfort. It featured shelves ahead of the front seats for storing large cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords. A wireless charging pad was standard on trims above the LE. Second-row passengers enjoyed plenty of legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to maximize space. The third row could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing straight down on passengers' heads. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen for radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, offering crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, but navigation was an optional feature. The 12.3-inch screen was bright, crisp, and fast, but only certain apps utilized the full width. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The JBL audio system sounded good but wasn't overly impressive.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler came with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).